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Federal funds to help renovate rental units
By JUDY BROAD
Staff Writer
South Tucson businessmen aren't the
oniy property owners who can improve
their investments with the aid of federal
money.
A $60,000 community-development block
grant will give landlords the chance to
renovate their rental units, Bonnie K.
Anderson, community development
program coordinator, said last week.
Deferred-payment loans are available
free of interest for a portion of the total
rehabilitation costs to encourage
upgrading of substandard housing.
Once the improved unit meets with
Section 8 standards of 'decent, safe,
Photo by Ed Maxson
Frances Freeman (left) and Charlotte Vega, both of the South Park Area Council,
accept applications for tax rebates and energy assistance payments at the Quincy-
Douglav Senior Recreation Center, 1100 E. Silverlake Road.
Final edition ¡n April
El Independiente will publish its last
issue on April 29. 1983. after seven
years of service to the community of
South Tucson.
The newspaper, first published ex-perimentally
in the spring of 1976.
began regular publication in the fall of
1976. El Independiente is published by
students at the University of Arizona
journalism department during the fall
and spring semesters.
Resources previously used for El
Independiente will help lo produce the
Tombstone Epitaph on a weekly basis
beginning in the fali of 1983.
The Epitaph. now a biweekly
newspaper, also is published by
students at the UA journalism
department. It is the only newspaper in
Tombstone.
Instead of El Independiente, a
bilingual publication focusing on
hispanic issues will be produced by CA
journalism students during the fall 1983
semester.
City Attorney plans full repayment of personal debts
B ERIC SNYDER
Staff Writer
South Tucson City Attorney Robert L.
Murray filed a petition for personal
financial reorganization with the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court on Feb. 3, listing debts
of $49,065.
Murray's petition outlines a plan to pay
'his creditors in full, with a series of
monthly installments over 36 months
beginning in April. "This is not a straight
bankruptcy. I plan to pay off my creditors
tOO percent," Murray said.
sanitary housing," the city can offer rent
subsidies to the building's tenants, An-derson
said.
The city, which already provides sub-sidies
for 16 low-income families, will be
able to issue an additional 15 grants in
coordination with the rental-improvement
program, said Adonis D. "Sonny''
Babineaux, the city planner.
There is a need for qualified housing,
and this joint effort not only allows lan-dlords
to give their buildings a face-lift,
but also provides better living conditions
and financial aid to those in need, An-derson
said.
Tenants who want to qualify for rent
subsidies are encouraged to speak about
The petition lists unsecured debts to 15
creditors totaling $40,522. The largest
unsecured debt is $24,455 to Valley
National Bank for a "personal credit
line."
Also listed are five secured creditors to
whom Murray owes a total of $8,542. A
secured creditor holds collateral or some
other assurance of payment.
According to his plan, Murray would pay
his un.secured creditors $1,000 a month for
36 months, followed by monthly payments
of $76010 cover the remaining balance. He
would pay his secured creditors $237 a
the project to their landlords, many of
whom received program information by
mail, Anderson said.
But while the future of this federally
funded face-lift progam looks bright, the
progress of another has reached a
"standstill," Anderson said.
The $94,000 grant made available in
December to South Tucson merchants who
sought to improve the appearances of their
businesses has had only six applicants,
and no money has been allocated yet.
"We're at a standstill right now. Many
businessmen are still trying to determine
if they want to take on a new debt. Others
are getting organized to determine how
much they want to get the job done,"
Anderson said.
South Tucson
awaits decision
in Garcia appeal
By Et) MAXSON
Staff Writer
The Arizona Court of Appeals on Feb. 9
heard a South Tucson plea that it reverse a
superior court order to begin paying the
$3.59 million personal-injury judgment
awarded to former Tucson Policeman
Julian Roy Garcia in 1980.
Garcia sued the city for negligence after
he was shot accidentally by a South
Tucson policeman during a joint police
operation in 1978. The wound left Garcia
paralyzed from the svaist down.
Attorney William G. Walker,
representing South Tucson. argued before
judges Lawrence Howard, James D.
Hathaway and Ben C. Birdsall that Pima
County Superior Court Judge Robert O.
Roylston had failed to consider the city's
ability to pay the judgment when he or-dered
in May 1982 that the debt be paid in
five annual installments.
The judges have written a draft opinion
on the appeal, but their decision has not
been released. - Last week's oral
arguments represenled a final opportunity
for attorneys for both sides to present
information.
The judges frequently inlerrupted
Walker during his presentation with give-and-
take that was sometimes con-versational,
sometimes sharp.
Court officials would not predict when
the decision will be made, but a
spokesman said, "It could be several days
to several weeks."
In the May 1982 court action, Roylston
ordered the city to make the first payment
before Dec. 31. 1982, and that it should
raise taxes if necessary. However, the
-rder was stayed when the city appealed.
month over the same period.
The plan also proposes payment of a
$5,174 fee to a bankruptcy court trustee,
who will handle disbursement of the
payments to the creditors. The fee in-cludes
a 5 percent commission and up to 5
percent for expenses.
Murray originally petitioned on Dec. 23
for relief from his creditors under Chapter
13 of the federal bankruptcy laws.
Along with his plan for reorganization,
Murray submitted a list of his debts and
assets.
Babineaux said the city would like to
loan all the money before the end of the
i year so more funds can be obtained.
'nterested owners must apply for the
loans, listing a description of tenants,
proposed improvements and estimated
cost.
In an effort to generate new interest in
the project, the City Council voted on Jan.
24to expand redevelopment boundaries of
"slum and blighted areas" to include
SouthFourth Avenue and East 29th Street.
Businesses in these areas, as well as
these along South Sixth Avenue, will be
eligible to receive long-term, low-interest
rehabilitation loans.
"The purpose is for rehabilitation of the
property for visual impact and number of
jobs created," Anderson said.
In appealing the order, Walker con-tended
that Roylston should have held a
trial-court hearing before directing the
city to make the payments.
"We could present evidence of the im-passibility
of performance, of the con-dition
of the city's finances," Walker said.
Birdsall interrupted Walker to ask if
South Tucson had more evidence than it
had presented to Roylston.
Walker referred to an affidavit in which
University of Arizona economics professor
John E. Buehler declared in February 1982
that South Tucson could not pay the Garcia
debt.
In that affidavit, Buehler predicted that
the city would lose revenue if it raised ito
sales tax.
Buehler noted that the 2 percent sales
tax now levied by both cities includes
grocery items in South Tucson, but not in
Tucson. Any sales tax increase by South
Tucson would further widen price dif-ferences
and dr.ive more people to shop in
Tucson, Buehler contended.
"They are no more than half a mile
away." Buehler said, referring to South
Tucson's geography.
Buehler also contended Ihat even if no
sales tax revenue were lost, South Tucson
also would need to increase property taxes
about 52 times to raise enough money to
meet the payments ordered by Roylston.
Walker argued that Roylston had not
consïdered Buehler's testimony.
"I think a court has to hear all evidence
before it can consider a one-year plan, a
five-year plan, a 18-year plan. All we want
io the Opportunity to present Dr. Buehler's
testimony," Walker told the judges.
Continued on page 2
He estimated his monthly income at
$8,500 and his future monthly expenses
at $7,440.
The plan, which calls for a total payment
by Murray of $52,240, has been submitted
to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William A.
Scanland for review. As of Feb. 11, no
decision had been made, court officials
said.
The petition is strictly a personal matter
necessitated by recent financial dif-ficulties,
Murray said. "1 want to make it
clear this has nothing to do with my
position with the city," he said.
South Tucson's
El Independiente
Vol. VIII No.2 Published by theDepartment of Journalism The University of Arizona Feb. 18, 1983

The contents of this collection are available to the public for use in research, teaching, and private study. U.S. Copyright and intellectual property laws may apply to the resources made available through this site.

The contents of this collection are available to the public for use in research, teaching, and private study. U.S. Copyright and intellectual property laws may apply to the resources made available through this site.

Full-text

Federal funds to help renovate rental units
By JUDY BROAD
Staff Writer
South Tucson businessmen aren't the
oniy property owners who can improve
their investments with the aid of federal
money.
A $60,000 community-development block
grant will give landlords the chance to
renovate their rental units, Bonnie K.
Anderson, community development
program coordinator, said last week.
Deferred-payment loans are available
free of interest for a portion of the total
rehabilitation costs to encourage
upgrading of substandard housing.
Once the improved unit meets with
Section 8 standards of 'decent, safe,
Photo by Ed Maxson
Frances Freeman (left) and Charlotte Vega, both of the South Park Area Council,
accept applications for tax rebates and energy assistance payments at the Quincy-
Douglav Senior Recreation Center, 1100 E. Silverlake Road.
Final edition ¡n April
El Independiente will publish its last
issue on April 29. 1983. after seven
years of service to the community of
South Tucson.
The newspaper, first published ex-perimentally
in the spring of 1976.
began regular publication in the fall of
1976. El Independiente is published by
students at the University of Arizona
journalism department during the fall
and spring semesters.
Resources previously used for El
Independiente will help lo produce the
Tombstone Epitaph on a weekly basis
beginning in the fali of 1983.
The Epitaph. now a biweekly
newspaper, also is published by
students at the UA journalism
department. It is the only newspaper in
Tombstone.
Instead of El Independiente, a
bilingual publication focusing on
hispanic issues will be produced by CA
journalism students during the fall 1983
semester.
City Attorney plans full repayment of personal debts
B ERIC SNYDER
Staff Writer
South Tucson City Attorney Robert L.
Murray filed a petition for personal
financial reorganization with the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court on Feb. 3, listing debts
of $49,065.
Murray's petition outlines a plan to pay
'his creditors in full, with a series of
monthly installments over 36 months
beginning in April. "This is not a straight
bankruptcy. I plan to pay off my creditors
tOO percent," Murray said.
sanitary housing," the city can offer rent
subsidies to the building's tenants, An-derson
said.
The city, which already provides sub-sidies
for 16 low-income families, will be
able to issue an additional 15 grants in
coordination with the rental-improvement
program, said Adonis D. "Sonny''
Babineaux, the city planner.
There is a need for qualified housing,
and this joint effort not only allows lan-dlords
to give their buildings a face-lift,
but also provides better living conditions
and financial aid to those in need, An-derson
said.
Tenants who want to qualify for rent
subsidies are encouraged to speak about
The petition lists unsecured debts to 15
creditors totaling $40,522. The largest
unsecured debt is $24,455 to Valley
National Bank for a "personal credit
line."
Also listed are five secured creditors to
whom Murray owes a total of $8,542. A
secured creditor holds collateral or some
other assurance of payment.
According to his plan, Murray would pay
his un.secured creditors $1,000 a month for
36 months, followed by monthly payments
of $76010 cover the remaining balance. He
would pay his secured creditors $237 a
the project to their landlords, many of
whom received program information by
mail, Anderson said.
But while the future of this federally
funded face-lift progam looks bright, the
progress of another has reached a
"standstill," Anderson said.
The $94,000 grant made available in
December to South Tucson merchants who
sought to improve the appearances of their
businesses has had only six applicants,
and no money has been allocated yet.
"We're at a standstill right now. Many
businessmen are still trying to determine
if they want to take on a new debt. Others
are getting organized to determine how
much they want to get the job done,"
Anderson said.
South Tucson
awaits decision
in Garcia appeal
By Et) MAXSON
Staff Writer
The Arizona Court of Appeals on Feb. 9
heard a South Tucson plea that it reverse a
superior court order to begin paying the
$3.59 million personal-injury judgment
awarded to former Tucson Policeman
Julian Roy Garcia in 1980.
Garcia sued the city for negligence after
he was shot accidentally by a South
Tucson policeman during a joint police
operation in 1978. The wound left Garcia
paralyzed from the svaist down.
Attorney William G. Walker,
representing South Tucson. argued before
judges Lawrence Howard, James D.
Hathaway and Ben C. Birdsall that Pima
County Superior Court Judge Robert O.
Roylston had failed to consider the city's
ability to pay the judgment when he or-dered
in May 1982 that the debt be paid in
five annual installments.
The judges have written a draft opinion
on the appeal, but their decision has not
been released. - Last week's oral
arguments represenled a final opportunity
for attorneys for both sides to present
information.
The judges frequently inlerrupted
Walker during his presentation with give-and-
take that was sometimes con-versational,
sometimes sharp.
Court officials would not predict when
the decision will be made, but a
spokesman said, "It could be several days
to several weeks."
In the May 1982 court action, Roylston
ordered the city to make the first payment
before Dec. 31. 1982, and that it should
raise taxes if necessary. However, the
-rder was stayed when the city appealed.
month over the same period.
The plan also proposes payment of a
$5,174 fee to a bankruptcy court trustee,
who will handle disbursement of the
payments to the creditors. The fee in-cludes
a 5 percent commission and up to 5
percent for expenses.
Murray originally petitioned on Dec. 23
for relief from his creditors under Chapter
13 of the federal bankruptcy laws.
Along with his plan for reorganization,
Murray submitted a list of his debts and
assets.
Babineaux said the city would like to
loan all the money before the end of the
i year so more funds can be obtained.
'nterested owners must apply for the
loans, listing a description of tenants,
proposed improvements and estimated
cost.
In an effort to generate new interest in
the project, the City Council voted on Jan.
24to expand redevelopment boundaries of
"slum and blighted areas" to include
SouthFourth Avenue and East 29th Street.
Businesses in these areas, as well as
these along South Sixth Avenue, will be
eligible to receive long-term, low-interest
rehabilitation loans.
"The purpose is for rehabilitation of the
property for visual impact and number of
jobs created," Anderson said.
In appealing the order, Walker con-tended
that Roylston should have held a
trial-court hearing before directing the
city to make the payments.
"We could present evidence of the im-passibility
of performance, of the con-dition
of the city's finances," Walker said.
Birdsall interrupted Walker to ask if
South Tucson had more evidence than it
had presented to Roylston.
Walker referred to an affidavit in which
University of Arizona economics professor
John E. Buehler declared in February 1982
that South Tucson could not pay the Garcia
debt.
In that affidavit, Buehler predicted that
the city would lose revenue if it raised ito
sales tax.
Buehler noted that the 2 percent sales
tax now levied by both cities includes
grocery items in South Tucson, but not in
Tucson. Any sales tax increase by South
Tucson would further widen price dif-ferences
and dr.ive more people to shop in
Tucson, Buehler contended.
"They are no more than half a mile
away." Buehler said, referring to South
Tucson's geography.
Buehler also contended Ihat even if no
sales tax revenue were lost, South Tucson
also would need to increase property taxes
about 52 times to raise enough money to
meet the payments ordered by Roylston.
Walker argued that Roylston had not
consïdered Buehler's testimony.
"I think a court has to hear all evidence
before it can consider a one-year plan, a
five-year plan, a 18-year plan. All we want
io the Opportunity to present Dr. Buehler's
testimony," Walker told the judges.
Continued on page 2
He estimated his monthly income at
$8,500 and his future monthly expenses
at $7,440.
The plan, which calls for a total payment
by Murray of $52,240, has been submitted
to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William A.
Scanland for review. As of Feb. 11, no
decision had been made, court officials
said.
The petition is strictly a personal matter
necessitated by recent financial dif-ficulties,
Murray said. "1 want to make it
clear this has nothing to do with my
position with the city," he said.
South Tucson's
El Independiente
Vol. VIII No.2 Published by theDepartment of Journalism The University of Arizona Feb. 18, 1983